by L. T. Meade
out on the evening air. Mrs Petersthought them blasphemy, and clasped her thin hands in horror. Jillturned to leave her. She went back to the empty flat, and sat down inthe old arm-chair where her mother had so often tried to rest.
It seemed to Jill that at last she had got at the meaning of hermother's sudden departure. Poll had gone away because Jill must not seeher pains. Jill must not see them--Jill, who loved her with thatpassion which comes now and then to a daughter for a mother, which nowand then is almost the strongest passion of life!
In that moment of agony Jill thought far more of her mother than she didof Nat. She loved Nat intensely, but just then the aching emptinesswithin her was caused entirely by Poll's absence.
She had never been angry with her mother for taking, as she supposed,all the savings out of the old stocking. Her one desire now was toshelter her mother. Jill had always stood between Poll and thecensorious world. Jill had always understood why Poll must drink nowand then; now it seemed to her that she also understood why the savingsmust go.
"I must find mother again," she said to herself, after a pause. "Imust, and I will; but, first of all, I ha' got to give Nat back the fivesovereigns as he gave me to take care on for his pal. There can be nomarrying a'tween us until mother's found, and the money given back toNat."
Jill spread her day's earnings on her lap. She found that she hadfifteen shillings, and had still a sufficient number of unsold flowersin her basket to give her, with a very few additions, sufficientmaterial for to-morrow's work. She had spent the greater part of anhour in the empty kitchen when there came a brisk knock at the door.She started at the sound, and went with some slight hesitation to openit. Nat might possibly be waiting outside. She longed to throw herselfinto his arms, and yet she dreaded seeing him. The knock was repeated.She opened the door, to see Susy Carter standing outside.
"It's me," she said, in her brisk way. "May I come in? My word, ain'tit hot!"
She entered the kitchen at once, and, taking a handkerchief out of herpocket, wiped her heated face.
"I thought maybe you'd be having tea," she said. "I'd be glad of a cup.Ain't your mother in yet?"
"No, Susy." Jill filled the kettle as she spoke, and, turning on thegas, set it on the little stove to boil. "You shall have a cup of teaas soon as ever I can get it ready, Susy."
"You don't look spry," said Susy. "Wot's up with yer? Has you and Nathad a quarrel?"
"No. How dare you say it?" Jill's eyes flashed with anger.
"Oh, highty-tighty! What a fly-away young madam it is!" said Susy, withher shrill laugh. "Well, Jill, I meant no offence. You lookdownhearted, somehow; and, of course, a gel don't expect to see that onthe face of another gel wot's jest gone and engaged herself to herbrother. It's but natrel to see smiles on yer face, Jill, and to hearyou joking and laughing. I joke orful when I'm happy, there's nothinglike a good joke for making time pass."
"Well, I'm happy enough," said Jill. "Who said I wasn't? It ain't myway to take my happiness all sparklin' and fizzin'. I likes it quietbest."
"You're in great luck to have got Nat," continued Susy. "Ef I wasanother sort, I'd be in a rage of jealousy, but that ain't me. Nat'ssafe to rise, and get on in the costering line; and he has saved a goodlittle bit of money, too, and put it away in the Savings' Bank, ef I amnot much mistook. Nat's close, when he likes, and so I tell him. Ilike him all the better for it. I 'ates people as wears their hearts ontheir sleeve, and tell all about their money matters, and so forth. I'mclose myself, and inclined to be saving, and so will Nat be ef you'lllet him, Jill."
"Who says I won't let him?" retorted Jill. She spoke almost pettishly;her voice had completely lost its usual sweetness. Susy was never acongenial companion to Jill, and to-night she rubbed her the wrong waywith each word she uttered.
"I'm not saying nothing," replied Susy, nodding her pretty, fair head."But deeds speak a sight louder nor words, and wot I want to know isthis--why you and Nat has made up yer mind to take all them heaps ofrooms down-stairs? It's the height of folly, and that you know, Jill."
"No, I don't; but I know something else," replied Jill.
"Wot? My word! you'll spill that boiling water on the tablecloth ef youdon't look out. Wot do you know, Jill?"
"That Nat and me can manage our own affairs, ef we are let," answeredJill.
"Oh, dearie me! now you're turning sulky. I must let Nat know as thepretty little dear has got a temper of her own. But, speakin' serious,Jill, hadn't we better strike that bargain while we are about it?"
"Wot bargain?"
"Me to have the best bedroom, and the run of the kitchen, for'arf-a-crown a week. Come now, it's only common prudence to say yes."
Jill sat down wearily, and dropped her hands to her sides. She hadsupplied Susy with tea, and bread and butter, and a substantial slice ofcold pork-pie, but she could not touch any food herself.
"Nat must decide," she said. "It's Nat's affair, it ain't mine. It'sfor him to decide."
"He says t'other way," said Susy, with a pout. "I bothered him thismorning for a good while, and he said it was for you to say. Fact is,Jill, you can turn Nat round your little finger. He'll do nothing agenyou, ef it was ever so little."
"Well, well, I'll let you know presently," said Jill. "I has a headacheto-night, and I am tired."
"But it won't tire you any worse jest to say yes. I'm in a choky, nastyroom now, and I want to give notice to quit. Ef you say `Yes' to-night,I can give a week's notice on Monday, and then I can move in yere Mondayweek. Nat'll keep my bits of things in his room, and you'd give me ashake-down till you was married, wouldn't you, Jill? Say yes, now do,dearie."
"I can't say nothing for certain, Susy. Nat and me we ain't marriedyet. Ef we marry, I suppose you're welcome to the room. I can't say nomore."
"And you 'as said 'eaps, and I'm much obleeged," said Susy, springingfrom her chair, running up to Jill and giving her a hearty embrace."I'll jest snap my fingers in my landlady's face, come Monday. You're agood sort, Jill, and a real out-and-out beauty. I don't wonder Nat'stook with you. Now, I suppose, I had better go. Poor Nat! he were in abit of trouble this morning for all he's in such delight at yourpromising to wed him."
"Nat in trouble!" said Jill, starting up, and speaking in a voice allanimation and pain. "Wot do you mean, Susy? and why didn't you tell methat afore?"
"I forgot it. My sakes, what a jumpy sort of wife you'll make! I doubtif you and Nat will suit. He's accustomed to me all his days and Inever let my feelings get the upper hand in that style."
"But wot is he in trouble about, Susy?"
"Oh, it's that pal o' his, Joe Williams."
"Yes. Wot o' he?" said Jill. She felt her heart beating quickly, forit was Williams's money which Nat had placed in her keeping.
"He's dead," said Susy. "He died sudden this morning. Nat's orful cutup, for the poor lad has left a wife and two or three children. By theway, Nat says that he has given you some money of Joe's to keep safe forhim."
"So he has," replied Jill.
"You look orful white, Jill. Are you going to faint?"
"I han't the least notion of sech a thing."
"Well, you do look queer! You're all narves, I expect. I wish Nat luckon you, with yer starty ways, and yer changes of colour."
"I'm very sorry about Williams," said Jill, her eyes filling with tears."I expect it has took Nat all on a heap. He set a deal of store onWilliams."
"He did. But, my sakes, you never knew him, Jill; it ain't for you tobe fretting. It's a good thing you has got the money safe, for 'twillbe wanted now for the funeral. Nat said as 'twere a load on his minda-keeping of it, for our rooms ain't safe. We was very onlucky in 'em,and I daren't leave so much as a shilling behind me in the morning. Iwish our Guild would provide rooms for us to sleep in, as well as aplace for the flowers. Well, I must go now, Jill. I'm obleeged for thetea, and the promise of the rooms--the _best_ bedroom, mind, when youand Nat is wed. How lat
e yer mother is comin' 'ome. Good-night, Jill."
Susy took herself off at last, and Jill breathed a sigh of relief. Shesat up for some little time longer, waiting for her brothers; butpresently, finding they did not come home, locked the door of
